The MoniQA Fact Sheets are 2 page documents, which place specific scientific issues and results (regarding food Quality and Safety) into a reader-friendly structure and highlight the results and achievements of the MoniQA project. The following fact sheets have been published:
* MoniQA Factsheet No 8: Mycotoxins (November 2011)
Mycotoxins are small (low-molecular weight) secondary metabolites (products of metabolism not essential for survival), produced by some filamentous fungi and often found in food. Chemically-diverse, they can cause disease and death to man and livestock. Adverse effects include tissue damage, immuno-suppression and neurological disorders following short- (acute) or long-term (chronic) exposure. In many countries, mycotoxin contamination is addressed by legislation. Successful management of mycotoxins is, however, effected thorough knowledge of their cause and implementation of appropriate control mechanisms, which are verified through use of reliable sampling and robust analytical methods. European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) data suggest that harmonisation of mycotoxin detection methods would improve compliance at regulatory and commercial limits.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 7: Food Authenticity (June 2010)
Authentication techniques verify whether a food complies with its description. Regulations protect consumers from inferior products and retailers from unfair competition. Enforcement helps retain consumer confidence and assure food safety, but increasingly consumers also want to be certain about where their food comes from, and producers of speciality foods like Parma ham want to protect their reputation and the value of their product. This factsheet provides an overview of the issues related to food authenticity.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 6: Food Allergy (October 2009) The public perception is that food allergy is a common condition. It is true that allergy is on the increase and with that also food allergy. In this factsheet we provide an overview of Food allergens in MoniQA and the importance of food allergy to different staekholder groups.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 5: Science Communication skills (June 2009) Through MoniQA Food Scientist Training workshops (MoniQA FST) we develop the research management and communication skills of scientists participating in the project. This factsheet provides some helpful advice on key presentation skills.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 4: Socio-economics of food quality and safety regulations (May 2009) MoniQA provides support for a systematic assessment of socio-economic impacts of new EU food quality and safety regulations.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 3: Clenbuterol (March 2009) an overview of clenbuterol and its detection in Chinese pork.
* MoniQA Factsheet No 2: Melamine (December 2008 ) an overview of the recent melamine crisis and MoniQA activities in this area as well as planned actions in other emerging food safety issues
* MoniQA Factsheet No 1: Food Quality and Safety Priorities (Autumn 2008, updated Spring 2010) Analytical methods cover a wide spectrum of food quality and safety issues. MoniQA has selected seven for closer examination.
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